Selective Color Editing in Affinity Photo: A Step-by-Step Guide

Updated at: 08/07/2025

Unleash your inner artist with Affinity Photo's powerful selective color editing tools! This step-by-step guide will transform your images from ordinary to extraordinary. Learn how to precisely target and modify colors, enhancing vibrancy, creating dramatic effects, and achieving professional-level results. No prior experience needed – let's dive in and master selective color editing together!

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Prepare the Image

    • Open your image in Affinity Photo and duplicate the background layer (Cmd/Ctrl + J).
    • Turn off the original background layer's visibility.
    Turn off the original background layer's visibility. Turn off the original background layer's visibility.
    Prepare the Image

  2. Isolate the Subject

    • Select your subject using the selection brush tool.
    • Duplicate the selection (Cmd/Ctrl + J) and deselect (Cmd/Ctrl + D).
    Duplicate the selection (Cmd/Ctrl + J) and deselect (Cmd/Ctrl + D). Duplicate the selection (Cmd/Ctrl + J) and deselect (Cmd/Ctrl + D).
    Isolate the Subject

  3. Desaturate Background

    • Add an HSL adjustment layer. Reduce saturation to -100% to desaturate everything except your selected subject.
    Add an HSL adjustment layer. Reduce saturation to -100% to desaturate everything except your selected subject.
    Desaturate Background

  4. Recolor a Specific Area (e.g., Shirt)

    • Select the area you want to recolor (e.g., shirt) using the selection brush tool. Duplicate the selection (Cmd/Ctrl + J).
    • Add another HSL adjustment layer to the duplicated selection. Use the Hue and Saturation sliders to change the color.
    Add another HSL adjustment layer to the duplicated selection. Use the Hue and Saturation sliders to change the color. Add another HSL adjustment layer to the duplicated selection. Use the Hue and Saturation sliders to change the color.
    Recolor a Specific Area (e.g., Shirt)

  5. Recolor a Larger Area (e.g., Trees)

    • For larger areas like trees, use the Select > Color Range to select a color range (e.g., greens). Duplicate the selection (Cmd/Ctrl + J).
    • Place the duplicated layer *above* the HSL adjustment layer to avoid desaturation. Add a Color Overlay effect (Layer Effects) to change the color, adjusting the blending mode (e.g., Soft Light) and opacity as needed.
    Place the duplicated layer *above* the HSL adjustment layer to avoid desaturation. Add a Color Overlay effect (Layer Effects) to change the color, adjusting the blending mode (e.g., Soft Light) and opacity as needed. Place the duplicated layer *above* the HSL adjustment layer to avoid desaturation. Add a Color Overlay effect (Layer Effects) to change the color, adjusting the blending mode (e.g., Soft Light) and opacity as needed.
    Recolor a Larger Area (e.g., Trees)

  6. Refine the Edit

    • Clean up any unwanted areas using the eraser tool.
    Clean up any unwanted areas using the eraser tool.
    Refine the Edit
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Tips

  • Experiment with different blending modes in the Color Overlay effect to achieve your desired results.
  • Using the Color Range selection is significantly faster than manually selecting complex areas like trees.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overly saturated or unrealistic colors

Reason: Selecting colors that are too vibrant or don't match the overall image tone can result in a distracting and unnatural final image.
Solution: Adjust the saturation and vibrancy sliders subtly to achieve a more natural and balanced look.

2. Inconsistent color selection

Reason: Applying selective color editing inconsistently, leading to some areas appearing jarringly different from others, breaks the visual harmony of the image.
Solution: Carefully refine your selection masks and use consistent color adjustments across similar elements.

3. Ignoring surrounding tones

Reason: Failing to consider how the selectively colored areas interact with their surroundings can lead to clashes and a lack of visual cohesion.
Solution: Pay close attention to the surrounding colors and adjust your selection and color adjustments accordingly to ensure a smooth transition.

FAQs

Can I selectively edit color only in specific areas of my image, like just the sky or a person's clothing?
Yes! Affinity Photo offers several tools for this. The most common are using selections (lasso, marquee, etc.) to target a specific area before applying color adjustments, or using masks on adjustment layers to control the area of effect. This allows for precise and non-destructive color editing.